life

As a descendant of Sephardic Jews forced to leave Spain during the 15th-century Inquisition, the author visits Toledo seeking citizenship, only to discover ties to the ancient city can sometimes be set in stone.

A wee dram at the Laphroaig distillery in the Scottish Hebrides turns into an invocation of a whisky-loving soul.

While old-style public housing apartment blocks conjure fond memories of the ‘real’ Hong Kong, a flawed system has seen them unable to keep up with demand, leading to near-intolerable living conditions for many tenants.

High above Capri’s busy Marina Grande, ornithologists use the spectacular vantage of the ruins of Castello Barbarossa to catch and observe migratory birds

Within Borneo’s Gomantong Caves – slippery with teeming insects, bird droppings and guano from two million bats – fine dining is likely far from the mind. But overhead a perilous harvest ensues for the key ingredient of Chinese bird’s nest soup.

In Los Angeles, everyone has a story and they’re eager to share it, but the enthusiasm to divulge personal details can have a traumatic side.

On a journey around the Great Lakes to honour his mother, the author takes his cue from Anishinaabe artist Rebecca Belmore and turns his ear to the water to listen to his surrounds.

On a journey around the Great Lakes to honour his mother the author takes his cue from Anishinaabe artist Rebecca Belmore and turns his ear to the water to listen to his surrounds.

A trip to the Scottish Highlands is not just a chance for the author to soak up the imposing scenery, but also to feel connection to her rugged forebears.